Two little fishes phosban reactor-need some help please

John Hartford · 07/19/2006, 06:54 AM

I purchased tow of the 'two little fishes phosban reactors' for my 210 tank, as the directions reccommended. I added the ROWAphos media (500ml). So I put the phosban reactors togeather and hooked them up to the pumps, and added the media. The media is suppose to 'tumble in the reactor like boiling water' I did not get that to happen. I added about 250ml. to each reactor, is that too much and is that why its not tumbling, or are the pumps to small? Anyone else have this happen and got it fixed? And is the ROWAphos the best type to of media to use for that reactor? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John.

melev · 07/19/2006, 07:12 AM

It does not need to tumble at all. Phosban, ROWAphos, Silphos, Pura Phoslock -- they all work fine.

Rather than dosing your tank too heavily with GFO (Granulated Ferric Oxide), underdose for now. Add 2" of media to each reactor, and then set up the flow thusly:

Test the effluent (water coming out of the reactor) for phosphates. It should read 0. If there are any phosphates at all, turn it down further, and test it again. You want the effluent to always be 0, and as soon as these rise, it is time to replace it with new media.

Now, since it is your first time, I better remind you that you do need to rinse the media. What I do is hook it up in my sump, but have the effluent tubing point out of the sump and into a nearby bucket. Turn on the pump and let the water flow through the media and the reactor will turn dark orange inside. This must all flow out into the bucket. Once the reactor is clear again, put the effluent tube back into the sump, and dispose of the water in the bucket. Replace this water with newly mixed saltwater, as you've just done a mini water change.

07/19/2006, 06:54 AM	#1
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	Two little fishes phosban reactor-need some help please I purchased tow of the 'two little fishes phosban reactors' for my 210 tank, as the directions reccommended. I added the ROWAphos media (500ml). So I put the phosban reactors togeather and hooked them up to the pumps, and added the media. The media is suppose to 'tumble in the reactor like boiling water' I did not get that to happen. I added about 250ml. to each reactor, is that too much and is that why its not tumbling, or are the pumps to small? Anyone else have this happen and got it fixed? And is the ROWAphos the best type to of media to use for that reactor? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, John.

07/19/2006, 07:12 AM	#2
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	It does not need to tumble at all. Phosban, ROWAphos, Silphos, Pura Phoslock -- they all work fine. Rather than dosing your tank too heavily with GFO (Granulated Ferric Oxide), underdose for now. Add 2" of media to each reactor, and then set up the flow thusly: Test the effluent (water coming out of the reactor) for phosphates. It should read 0. If there are any phosphates at all, turn it down further, and test it again. You want the effluent to always be 0, and as soon as these rise, it is time to replace it with new media. Now, since it is your first time, I better remind you that you do need to rinse the media. What I do is hook it up in my sump, but have the effluent tubing point out of the sump and into a nearby bucket. Turn on the pump and let the water flow through the media and the reactor will turn dark orange inside. This must all flow out into the bucket. Once the reactor is clear again, put the effluent tube back into the sump, and dispose of the water in the bucket. Replace this water with newly mixed saltwater, as you've just done a mini water change.